Book and binder therefor



M y 19, 3 I c. E. EMMER 2,638,902

BOOK AND BINDER THEREFOR Filed Oct. 25, 1947 Ersh Zmr (HARLES [ow/e0 Erma/z Pa tente d May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOOK AND BINDER THEREFOR Charles Edward Emmer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to General Binding Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 25, 1947, Serial No. 782,063

holding a plurality of sheets to form a book or the like.

One type of binder for holding sheets of paper or the like to form a book or folder comprises a backbone from which a plurality of spaced resilient curved fingers extend. The fingers are curved to define a loop in conjunction with the backbone and. are received in suitable aligned holes along one edge of the sheets to be bound. While this method of binding is relatively inexpensive, and provides a neat, attractive appearance, it is subject to the disadvantage that the fingers tend to open when the sheets are pulled relative thereto and may then permit sheets to leak out. Moreover, with this type of binder,

. assembly of the binder and the sheets is rendered difiicult by the fact that the fingers naturally assume a curved shape capable of receiving only a small thickness of sheets at a time, thereby requiring several lifts of small numbers "of sheets to build up the desired total thickness of the book.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved binder having .a backbone and a plurality of curved fingers is provided in which the fingers are bent inwardly of the loop defined by the backbone and fingers. This inwardly extending portion is relatively straight and acts as a hook to catch the sheets of the folder or book when pulled relative to each other, thereby holding the unit in assembled shape even through pulled in such a'manner as otherwise to permit the sheets to leak out. Moreover, when the curved fingers are unwound by suitable binderopening equipment for the insertion of sheets thereon, the straight portions of the fingers form posts to receive a large number of assembled punched sheets, thereby facilitating and speeding up assembly of the unit by requiring only a single lift during the binding process. It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide an improved book and binder therefor, the binder being of the type having a backbone and a plurality of curled fingers.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved binder of the type having a backbone and a plurality of curled fingers wherein the sheets cannot leak out when pulled relative to each other.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved binder having curled fingers operable in the unwound condition to 'form posts to receive sheets to be bound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved binder finger for use in 1 Claim. (01. 129 1 binders wherein sheets are held by curved fingers and which is shaped to define a hook when pulled by pressure exerted by the sheets.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and vmethod of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by references to the following description taken' in connection with the accompanying drawings. I

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of one form of binder constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and containing sheets of paper or the like to form a folder or book;

Figures 2-and 3 are top plan and rear elevational views, respectively, of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view like Figure 2 but without the sheets in place;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the binder of Figure 4 with the fingers unwound to show how they form posts over which the sheets to be bound may be inserted;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view showing how the binder of the present invention forms hooks to hold the sheets in position when the sheets are pulled relative to each other.

Figures 7 and 8 are end elevation and top plan views respectively of an alternative embodiment of the present invention with a plurality of sheets bound to form a book; and

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are end elevational, top plan, and side elevational views respectively of still another embodiment of the present invention but without sheets bound therein.

As shown on the drawings:

The book or folder of Figures 1, 2, and 3 comprises a plurality of sheets HI which may be of paper or similar material and which are punched to define a plurality of spaced rectangular openings I2 along one edge thereof. The binder, indicated generally at [4, consists of an arcuate backbone Hi from which extends a plurality of curled fingers iii, the fingers l8 extending in a direction normal to the axis of the backbone l6 and being in spaced relationship along that axis to form an array of substantially equally spaced fingers. Each finger IE defines a loop in conjunction with the backbone l6 so that the entire binder assemblage is of cylindrical shape, the backbone and fingers forming arcuate portions thereof. Each finger I8 is received in an open- 3 ing !2 punched in the sheets II], the shape of the opening being made rectangular to correspond with the cross section of the fingers.

The binder I4 is composed of self sustaining sheet like material with sufiicient resiliency, at least in the curled fingers [8 thereof, to reclaim a closed loop position even after repeated flexing. Plastics, spring-y sheet metal and the like are satisfactory.

In accordance with the present invention, the end of each finger I8 is bent inwardly of the loop formed in conjunction with the rbackbone IE to form an inwardly extending portion 22, Figure 1. This portion is preferablyat least as long as the maximum thickness of 'the'sta'ck of sheets I intended to be bound by the binder and extends in a straight lline. This/[portion forms a straight upstanding post for receiving a stack of sheets to be bound, which stack is of thickness equal to or slightly less than the length of the portion 22. As will be'described in further detail hereafter, this extending por tion 22 also forms a hooked barriertopr'event leakage of the sheets [0 when the sheets are pulled relative to each other. The stra ight end portions 22 of the fingers 1'8 are preferably directed inwardlyat a right angle or less to the ends of the looped portions of the fingersyas 'is best seen the view of Figure 1. In order to :best coop'erate with the looped finger portions,-th'ese ends 22 should not be in "obtuse angular relationship with the curled fingers. Such obtuse angular relationship will decrease the effectiveness of the retaining hook properties of theends 22 but in any event the ends irrespective of their angular relationship with the curled finger p'ortions will have some effectiveness.

The edge of backbone"; opposite the :edge from which the fingers I8 extend is notched .at spaced intervals to define the openings 20 into which the fingers l8 extend to close the 1100p formed by the arcuate backbone [6 without at the same time physically engaging the backbone l6. This portion of the structure .is :best seen in the views of Figures 2 and 4 which show clearly the space between the bottoms of the notches 20 and the fingers 1.8 at the points where the latter bend inwardly.

The appearance of the binder l4-when .no sheets are mounted thereon will be evidentfrom the view of Figure 4.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing how the sheets may be inserted inthe bi-nder of Figures 1 to 4. As indicated, a pair of .pins 24 and 26 rest against the backbone It and-the fingers l8 respectively. These pinsarepulled to spaced positions relative to each-other to unwind or open the fingers 18, this operation being accomplished by a machine provided for this purpose such as, for example, that disclosed and claimed in my pend-ingapplication Serial No. 733,578, filed March 10, 1 947. is evident from Figure 5, the straight portions 22 "of the. fingers l8, have no strain placed thereon by the pins 2 4 and 26, maintain their straight configurations as the fingers are unwound and rotate from the downwardly extending position :of Figure 1 to a more nearly upwardlyextending position of Figure 5. These portions 'of the fingers thus form upstanding posts or pins to receive the sheets.

When the sheets to have been inserted on the portions 2 2 of the fingers [8, the binder :may'be released to cause the fingers to curl to the position of Figure 1. When this takes place, the fingers slide within the opening l2 of, the sheets book atone time, the ability of the fingers I8 to receive the desired number of sheets in the aligned condition they naturally assume immediately after punching substantially simplifies :and speeds up the process of assembling a book or folder using the binder of the present invention.

Figure .6 is aside elevational view showing how "the fingers of the binder of the present invention define :hooks to hold the sheets ID to prevent them from being pulled free of the binder. Inthis'view, the sheets I0 are divided into two portions Illa and Nb which are pulled to spaced positions relative to each other in a manner naturally tending to unwind the fingers ii? and cause the sheets 'to slide free of the binder. This unwinds the fingers 18, but, since the portions 22 thereof open to a hook-shaped configuration, the tendency of the teeth 18 to unwind further is overcome by the tendency of the portions 22 thereof to form a hook to prevent further opening.

Figures '7 and 8 are side elevation and top plan views respectively'of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As will be evident from these figures, the binder ll includes a backbone portion 15 from which a plurality of curved fingers 18 extend in like manner as in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. Moreoveigthe ends of the fingers 18 extend inwardly along straight portions 22 to define a hook portion to prevent leakage of the sheets ['0 in like manner as in the case of the embodiment of Figures 1 to .4.

The embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 differs'froin the structure of Figures 1 to 4 in that the edge of the backbone is opposite that from which the fingers i8 extend has no notches 29. Instead, each finger is curved inwardly at a ,point spaced from that edge of the backbone was indicated in the figures, thus defining a loop in conjunction with the backbone, the loop having .an open- 'ing between the inwardly extending portionof each finger and the edge of the backbone 15.

Figures 9, '1'0, and 11 are end elevation, top plan, and side elevational views respectively of still another embodiment of the present invention. As will be evident from these figures, the binder 14 includes a backbone portion [6 having a .fiat portion 46a and opposed bent up edge portions, the curved fingers 18 extending from one of these edge portions to define loops in conjunction with the backbone 16. The ends of the fingers I i are bent inwardly from'a point spaced from the edge of the backbone I6 '(see Figure 9) and in direction parallel to the-flat portion 1 Bwof the backbone.

The inwardly bent portions 22 of the fingers 18 0f the binder of Figures!) to '11 act in "like manner as the fingers 18 of the binder of Figures 1 to 6 to form a hook to hold the sheets against leakage when pulled and to define upstanding posts or fingers upon which the sheets may be mounted whenthe-binder isopened by flexing the fingers to the unwound position.

Asindicated above the binder of the presen invention may be made of any one of a variety of materials. Preferably, however, it is made of a thermoplastic resin sheet of the type that may be stamped out to form the developed shape of the binder and then curved under heat to form and set in the desired shape. Upon subsequent cooling, the backbone l6 and the fingers i8 naturally tend, in the released condition, to assume the desired binder configuration and resiliently oppose bending of flexure from this condition such as, for example, upon opening of the binder to receive the sheets. This material possesses the advantages of low cost and the ability to take attractive colors to provide effective bindings.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that while I have shown the fingers i3 bent inwardly at points spaced from the edge of the backbone ii), these may, if desired, contact this edge to form a completely closed loop.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications both in the elements employed and their cooperative combination may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, of course, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'in the United States is:

A binder, for securing together a plurality of sheets provided with aligned perforations along one of their edges, formed of resilient material and comprising a backbone having a plurality of fingers extending from one longitudinal edge thereof, each finger having a curled body portion and a tip portion bent sharply inwardly, said backbone having a plurality of spaced notches along its other longitudinal edge, the elbow formed by the junction of said body portion of each finger and said tip portion being disposed in a notch of said backbonejsaid tip portion of each finger being disposed at a substantial angle to the marginal portion of said backbone which has the notches therein.

CHARLES EDWARD EMMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,207,602 Trussell July 9, 1940 2,2?'7,834 Spinner Mar. 31, 1942 2,407,656 Emmer Sept. 17, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,960 Great Britain 1913 399,689 Great Britain Oct. 12, 1933 46,934 France Aug. 11, 1936 (Addn. to 782,571) 

